Dear Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson friends and residents,

Hoping you are all enjoying the warm Spring temperatures and seeing all the blooms on the trees along Hudson Street. Just a couple of items to put on your radar:

After sixteen years of usage, it was time to replace and refurbish the dock planking and provide our boat dock at Donahue Memorial Park with a bit of tender loving care. See the attached photographs of the newly reinstalled dock. It’s safer and much more aesthetically pleasing. Make sure you thank a Department of Public Works employee when next you see one of them.

Speaking of the park, the Village Board will vote next Monday at the April business meeting to codify the fee schedule for reservations of Village park properties and facilities. This means that the new pavilion will soon be available to rent for your event. Stay tuned for posted details.

Finally, today opens Summer Camp registration (9:00 a.m.) through the Town’s new online registration site: cornwall.recdesk.com. You may also take advantage of in-person registration at Rec. Department (located at Munger Cottage). Payment online available via credit card and if in person, options include cash, check, or credit card payment. Contact Laura Kirby of Phyllis Murphy at the Town of Cornwall Rec. Department at (845) 534-2070 with any questions.

 On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano
Mayor

Dear Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson friends and residents,

As the weather warms up, you’ll begin to see our Department of Public Works and associated contractors out preparing for the Spring/Summer Seasons. As a reminder: Yard Waste Pick-up begins Monday, April 1, 2024 and Bulk Pickup is scheduled for Monday, April 22, 2024.

A few ongoing projects that I felt worthy and instructive to share with you. As our Village celebrates its 140-year anniversary in 2025 and our bandstand prepares to celebrate its 140^th-anniversary in August of 2026, please know that the Village will be making some repairs and providing upkeep to the current bandstand (which was a replacement in 1985). The weather has not been kind to the structure and we are committed to refurbishing this cherished facility in time for the opening Tuesday of our Bandstand Concert Series scheduled for May 28, 2024.

I’ve attached some photos hereon as well. Photos one through three highlight the great work our DPW crews are doing to repair our dock sections at Donahue Memorial Park. Sixteen years of waves and weather put a beating on the old dock. Photo four highlights the work being done at the Pavilion to interconnect a paver walkway with Shore Road, the Pavilion, and our composting toilets -- and provide electricity to the Pavilion. And finally, photos five, six, and seven are of sidewalk work currently ongoing along Curie Road. Homeowners, apartment dwellers, and children walking to the Middle School have patiently awaited this project completion for a number of years. Safety is a primary consideration – but the walkability aesthetics are a bonus.

These are just a tiny sampling of the early-Spring projects your Village is currently undertaking.  

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

Dear Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson residents,

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19, 2024 is the Village’s Election Day held inside the Edward C. Moulton, Jr. Boardroom at Village Hall, 325 Hudson Street. Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and we do not anticipate any lines. So please stop by and do your civic duty.

Voting in America is not just a sacred right – it’s our solemn duty. We need to exercise the annual “muscle memory” and be an example to our youth that voting is a precious responsibility. This includes when there exist no contested races on a particular ballot. There are two trustee positions on the board that are scheduled to be filled this election cycle. The Cornwall Local published a Q&A for both candidates if you are unfamiliar with those running. In a Village of 3,000 residents and with 2,100 registered voters, let’s avoid the ignominy of having lower turnout – with similar conditions in 2014 – when only 89 of us turned out to pull the lever.
Make sure you pass the word along to friends and neighbors and get out the vote tomorrow.

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano
Mayor

Dear Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson residents,

Tuesday’s winter storm, blessedly, was not as paralyzing as some forecasters had anticipated. Regardless, the greater Cornwall area received upwards of 10.4”. The Village’s Department of Public Works did their per usual job of keeping our roadways clear and ensuring our safety on the roads. These crews deserve a lot of credit. It is a small department and they get the job done.

Several residents had reached out to me regarding clearance of snow from sidewalks around the Village. Their valid concerns were from a public safety aspect – pedestrians (especially COHES school kids) having to veer off the uncleared sidewalks and into the roadway while on foot.

I wanted to ensure that everyone is well versed in our Village code regarding snow and ice removal from sidewalks. Per Village code, § 135-8, the duty to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice falls on the respective homeowner or business. This includes any/all sidewalks adjoining such properties and for the “full paved width of such sidewalk.” Now, historically, the Village – as a courtesy – has endeavored to clear all sidewalks as soon as the roadways, parking spaces, and municipal lots have been cleared of snow and ice. It’s a process and takes time. But our policy to courtesy-clear sidewalks as soon as possible around the Village remains in effect.

However, please note that by code, § 135-9 (time limit for removal), residents and businesses have “24 hours after the end of a snowfall” to clear sidewalks adjoining their property. Also, by code, § 135-11 (removal by Village), the DPW Superintendent can provide notice to a violative property owner and require remediation within four hours. Via code, § 135-12 (cost of removal), property owners could be charged “a bill for the removal of snow,” issued by the Village Clerk.

Again, please know that under this administration, Village will continue longstanding tradition to assist residents and business owners by helping remove snow from sidewalks. Please be patient with us as we work through the priority matrices. The Village Board simply felt it imperative to better educate all of us – myself included, as I had to research – as to Village’s responsibilities.

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

January 23, 2024

Mayor’s Message [Postponement of Joint Special Meeting with Town Related to Water System]:

Dear Residents and Friends of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson,

I am making the difficult decision to cancel Thursday’s scheduled Joint Special Meeting that was to conjoin the Village Board and Town Council and was related to water system matters that impact both municipalities. We will reschedule the meeting for Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., again to be held at Village Hall, 325 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY 12520.

This office will ensure we post the notice across all platforms well in advance of new date.

After careful consideration and discussions with a number of residents who all get their news from different sources, I simply want to ensure we are making a solid effort to publicly notice this meeting on all the appropriate sites. I sincerely apologize for any confusion this may have caused. But far better to take a step back and ensure we have a well-informed community.

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

Mayor’s Message [Rapid COVID-19 Test Kit Availability Edition]:

Dear Residents of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson,

The Orange County Department of Health has graciously provided to the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson a limited supply of Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test kits. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis to Village residents ONLY while supplies last. Each household may receive up to two FREE boxes (two self-test kits per box). Simply stop by the Village Clerk’s Office during normal business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Be advised that we are closed next Monday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

Do not fret the expiration dates and feel compelled to trash expired kits. The manufacturer advises that the test kits are good for one year beyond any expiration dates. ‘Tis the season for colds, sniffles, flu, RSV, and COVID-19’s various strains. Take advantage of these FREE self-test kits. Stop by Village Hall, say “hello,” and pick up your FREE self-test kits today.

On behalf of your Village Board,
James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano
Mayor

January 9, 2023

Mayor’s Message [Impending Weather Warning Edition]:

Dear Residents and Friends of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson,

As the region braces for yet another significant weather event -- one which compounds melting snow, high winds, and yet another hyper-localized rainfall, here are some forecasting and precautionary information provided by the County Executive’s Office and the Orange County Deputy Commissioner for Emergency Management, Alan C. Mack:

“[T]he Orange County Emergency Management team is closely monitoring the forecast for upcoming Winter Storm Finn. Today’s storm, combined with recent Winter Storm Ember, may be problematic because of wind and potential flooding. The National Weather Service forecast shows temperatures leaving the low twenties up to a high of 52 degrees. At the same time, the wind will slowly ramp up to steady-state 22 MPH with gusts up to the mid-thirties. At 10:00 AM, we’ll have another small round of snow, with no appreciable accumulation. None of these (on their own) are a problem, but starting at 1:00 PM, rain begins to fall around the County until 1:00 PM Wednesday. 7:00 PM Tuesday night thru 7:00 AM Wednesday is the main problem. The rain is forecasted to fall hard and fast with excessive volume. We may receive over two inches of rain between 7:00 PM -7:00 AM. This is a lot of rain on its own, but the snow on the ground will melt with the higher temperatures and the large volume of rain. The snow that fell during Ember had a 7:1 liquid to snow ratio (seven inches of snow equals one inch of water). Based on past experiences, we believe we’re going to see some significant localized flooding.”

So, as our Village (and Town) crews continue to labor to mitigate flooding within the greater Cornwall area, and in coordination with Cornwall’s Office of Emergency Management Director Kurt Hahn, we are making available a supply of sand bags and sand within the Village at our Municipal Water Building located at 21 Maple Avenue. Any Village OR Town residents seeking to use sandbags to redirect water can stop by and are encouraged to take up to TEN sandbags. You will have to fill them yourself with material and shovels provided. Please take only up to ten bags. Honor System is in effect. You may use our municipal lot to fill bags while securing them and park without obstructing. Please respect the neighborhood while you are doing so. This was the best agreed-upon location that will be open 24/7 and available until material supply runs out.

For Village residents: To be kept informed, you  may register for the Village’s messaging system by either texting the keyword COH1250 to 99411 or by clicking on the below weblink:

https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF39E0553EE3

The guidance from the County is to be taken seriously. Within the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, our stalwart road crews continue to remove snow from the streets and are working to clear any and all obstructed storm drains, ensuring a path for melting snow and impending rainfall. The volume of rain we are expecting – much like the storms of 12/23/2022, 7/9/2023, and 12/17/2023 – will overwhelm our storm drain system. Some of our infrastructure simply cannot handle what the Governor of New York State has referred to as a “1,000-year storm” – the types of storms we are seeing all too frequently of late. We will continue to keep residents updated with any relevant storm-related news or precautions. Please reach out with any needs.

Mayor’s office number: (845) 534-4200 (x311).

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

December 4, 2023

Dear Town/Village Water Clients of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson’s Water System,

A blurb in last week’s Cornwall Local in its “Around the Village” feature has led to some fears and concerns expressed on social media and related to the Village’s “Water Meter Replacement Project.” These fears are unfounded and related to some speculative, inaccurate, and erroneous information being circulated in posted comments section. Here are the FACTS:

The Cornwall water system includes 2,671 meters. ONLY 360 of these meters required updating. Letters were mailed ONLY to the customers requiring upgraded replacements; with initial notice sent via USPS in June of 2023, followed by a second notice in August of 2023, with a final notice mailed out in November of 2023. New fee rate for those who ignored these mailings goes into effect in January of 2024. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THE UPGRADED METERS. 

To date, our Water Department has replaced 265 out of the 360 outdated models (73.6%). Our team is scheduled to replace another 26 meters by end of this calendar year. This translates to 291 of the original 360 (79.7%) – which leaves 69 outstanding meter replacements (39 in Town and 30 in Village) for total project completion. 

The remaining 69 meters represent just 2.58% of our customer base. Over 97% of our water customers already possess a meter on their property which can be read remotely. The $75.00 manual read fee – which helps pay for having to pull our small team of employees off of other projects related to maintaining some 52 miles of water pipes, five reservoirs, a well field, and multiple treatment facilities in order to deliver safe, drinkable water to your tap, so that they can make a house call to read a meter -- will pertain to less than 3% of our end state consumers.

Important Note: This fee will only be assessed if the property owner has NOT made ANY attempt to schedule an appointment.

If residents are unsure of what type of meter that they have, they can call our Administrative Assistant Stephanie Xagoraris at (845) 534-4200 Ext. 250. She can advise whether meter requires replacement. I have posted photographs of what is considered “old” and “upgraded.”

BENEFITS: The new meters will read water consumption to the tenth of a gallon allowing for FAR more accurate billing. The old meters read consumption in 1,000-gallon increments.

New meters will allow residents to also remotely monitor their own water consumption system and set usage alerts from any internet capable device.

The new meters also allow our staff to more accurately monitor water consumption on a daily basis, while comparing it to our daily water production to monitor for water system leaks.

I hope this explainer helps to clear up any confusion. Water Superintendent Trainor and his team do an outstanding job delivering this precious resource to our homes, schools, and businesses. Both he and I (and our water staff) are available to any resident with questions or concerns.

On behalf of the Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

 

 

Dear Residents and Friends of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson,

It deeply saddens me to reflect on the horrific terror attacks on the State of Israel as Israelis were completing their seven-day-long Jewish festival of Sukkot on Saturday. Hamas terrorists based out of Palestine fired thousands of missiles on indiscriminate targets and then breached fences separating Israel from Gaza in order to unleash a bloody terror attack. We are all well aware of the details of civilians being slaughtered, babies beheaded, women raped, and hostages abducted.

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the innocent civilians purposely targeted and slain. Also, appreciate the pain and fear of the families whose loved ones were taken hostage. New York State has a large Jewish population – our friends, neighbors, and fellow community members. We shall stand with them during this darkest of hours for the State of Israel. Eleven American citizens have been confirmed dead during the attack and an unknown number of American citizens may be held hostage. We pray for their well-being and safe release.

I have ordered all Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY flags on four municipal properties flown in the half-mast position until Friday COB. Regarding queries about official proclamations of support, I have never felt appropriate for the Village Board to engage in geopolitical or even national matters via empty resolution gestures that won’t lead to any concrete solutions (same position we held in regard to Ukraine’s fight against Russia). Our flag lowerings are our one-time symbolic gesture of support. We acknowledge fact that we stand with Israel -- our longtime ally in the Middle East. Terrorism is a global scourge that the world community must eradicate.   

With heavy heart and on behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

View Recorded Video of Meeting

Dear Residents and Friends of the greater Cornwall area,

Tonight, Thursday, September 21, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m., inside the Edward C. Moulton, Jr. boardroom located at Village Hall, 325 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, the Village Board will be joined by the Town Council for a special meeting related to a preliminary review of a DRAFT water system master plan (prepared by the Village Engineer).

This meeting is the third joint session of recent vintage and will serve as an opportunity for the board and council to have a first look at exactly where Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson stand related to our aging, failing, and crumbling water system infrastructure. Presentations from Village Engineer Jason Pitingaro and Water Superintendent Michael Trainor will kick things off. Afterwards, the two elected bodies will engage in initial talks regarding the current state of our infrastructure and potential paths forward.

The meeting is scheduled for two and one-half hours and is OPEN to the public, space available. It will also be livestreamed and remotely accessible to witness in real time via a link to be provided on the Village website and Facebook page. Those unable to join can also access archived video of the proceedings to be posted later to our YouTube page. There will also be a limited period towards the end of the meeting for public comment for those in attendance.

Please understand – this is the INITIAL unveiling of the draft plan. Every issue will not be resolved tonight. This meeting is designed for the Village – which controls the greater Cornwall area’s water system infrastructure (to include 16,000 customers, 52 miles of subterranean water mains, five reservoirs and attendant dams, a well field, and treatment facilities) – to lay out focused priorities for repairs, remediation, and upgrades to a water system introduced in 1888. 

Full transparency is the goal, followed by prioritized “action items.” Exists no panacea of solutions or bottomless pot of funding to solve every crisis now. But we would be derelict in our duties as custodians of our community’s precious resource not to begin to address them soon – as opposed to continuous kicking of the metaphorical can down the road. Let’s begin the process of proactivity and cease the reactionary posture. There are only so many band-aids we can apply to our system. Join us tonight or tune in later to hear the discussion regarding our future.

On behalf of your Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor